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Matching Grant CY 2007

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2007 was another successful year for the Voluntary Agency Matching Grant Program (MG). 28,137 refugees, Cuban/Haitian entrants, asylees and certified victims of human trafficking enrolled in the Matching Grant Program in CY 2007, with 1,105 clients funded solely on private dollars. MG services were provided in approximately 225 locations across the U.S. MG service providers successfully employed 64% of all employable adults, resulting in a 69% Self-Sufficiency rate at day 120 and 81% Self-Sufficiency rate at day 180. The MG program also boasts an average hourly wage of $8.47 and an extremely low 120-day out-migration rate of 3%.

Of the number of highlights in the 2007 year, one of the largest was the $10 million program budget increase to $60 million, resulting in a per capita increase from $2,000 to $2,200 and a projected client increase from 25,000 to 27,272. The MG program continues utilizing the Performance Based Formula awarding system for calculating program awards, but has set aside $5 million of the increase for supplementary discretionary funding to be awarded at the discretion of the ORR Director.

Another significant change in 2007 was the extension of the program year from 1 January 2007 through 31 January 2008. This thirteen month year in 2007 enabled ORR to begin the 2008 program on February 1, 2008 and continue through January 31, 2009. By beginning the program on February 1, 2008 and moving the Social Service RCA/RMA reporting to a trimester format, ORR effectively realigns the program to have program outcomes reported in corresponding periods. This will provide ORR with a comprehensive view of all its programs for new arrivals and enable it to strategically deploy its monitoring and technical assistance resources.

Church World Service (CWS) received $4,411,000 to enroll 2,005 clients. CWS served 2,019 clients, including the provision of Matching Grant services to an additional 14 clients through private resources. Of the clients enrolled, 1,411 were refugees, 544 were Cuban or Haitian entrants, 63 were Asylees and one was a Victim of Human Trafficking. Cubans, Burmese, Burundian and Somalis represented the largest ethnicities served through the program.

CWS had a significant amount of turnover of staff at local offices over the past year and therefore spent much of 2007 focusing on providing an extensive amount of training throughout their network. Training has centered on increasing employment outcomes and self-sufficiency rates while providing tools to assist local staff in providing quality services.

CHURCH WORLD SERVICE

Measures

Cases

Individuals

Percentage

Enrolled

910

2019

0

Self-sufficient 120 days

743

1670

73%

Self-sufficiency retention
at 180 days

594

1371

97%

Overall self-sufficiency
at 180 days

697

1626

89%

Entered Employment

0

895

78%

Average Hourly Wage

0

$8.31

0

Health Benefits

0

474

56%

Episcopal Migration Ministries (EMM) received $3,350,600 to enroll 1,523 clients. The majority of clients enrolled were Burmese Karen and Chin, Burundians, Cubans, and Iraqis. EMM enrolled 1,518 clients into the MG program for the year with reported outcomes at 74% at the 120 th day and 87% at the 180 th day for all individuals enrolled.

Some highlights from the field were in Tennessee, Kentucky, Houston, and Texas where MG staff provided intense support to meet the vast needs of the so called “1972 Burundians”. This population arrived with considerable obstacles to achieving self-sufficiency, including illiteracy, lack of English, unfamiliarity with modern amenities, and a lack of marketable skills. Affiliates revamped orientation programs to include additional concentrated sessions on the world of work and transportation orientation in an effort to acclimate clients to US customs. The success of these efforts is seen in the outcomes for the agency’s network, which exceeded the national average.

EPISCOPAL MIGRATION MINISTRIES

Measures

Cases

Individuals

Percentage

Enrolled

622

1518

0

Self-sufficient 120 days

440

1097

74%

Self-sufficiency retention
at 180 days

407

1014

81%

Overall self-sufficiency
at 180 days

464

1160

87%

Entered Employment

0

551

80%

Average Hourly Wage

0

$8.37

0

Health Benefits

0

323

63%

Ethiopian Community Development Council (ECDC) received $1,317,800 to enroll 599 clients in CY 2007. ECDC enrolled 599 clients, including 583 refugees and 16 asylees. The major ethnic groups served through ECDC included Burmese, Burundian, Somali and Congolese.

One highlight from the field was the outreach done by ECDC’s Denver, Colorado affiliate, the African Community Center, which is increasing awareness of refugee issues through the “Voices of Refugees” series at the Denver University campus. The event was welcomed by a standing room only audience and late broadcast by local radio programs.

Another highlight comes from ECDC’s Houston, Texas affiliate, the Alliance for Multicultural Community Services (AMCS). In addition to the standard required MG services and external referrals, MG clients have access to the following in-house programs: Driver Education, Women’s Health Initiative Program (WHIP), HIV/AIDS Project, Unanticipated Arrivals, Healthy Marriage Program, and an after school program.

ETHIOPIAN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL

Measures

Cases

Individuals

Percentage

Enrolled

233

599

0

Self-sufficient 120 days

188

402

50%

Self-sufficiency retention
at 180 days

150

317

91%

Overall self-sufficiency
at 180 days

173

373

66%

Entered Employment

0

230

45%

Average Hourly Wage

0

$8.86

0

Health Benefits

0

206

91%

Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS) received$1, 755,600 to enroll 798 clients in CY 2006. HIAS enrolled 700 clients into the program. Almost all were refugees with the exception of 29 Asylees and 2 Victims of Human Trafficking. Family reunification refugees from Iran and the Former Soviet Union continued to make up a majority of the caseload, although of note is the increase in free cases placed in the program, led by Southeast Asians, mostly refugees from Burma. HIAS added two affiliates during the 2007 program year. These sites were Columbus, Ohio and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. These affiliates are among their fastest growing free case sites and had good job placement rates in other programs prior to entering the MG program.

A major accomplishment in 2007 was the continued improvement of the 120-day performance outcomes. Self-Sufficiency rates at 120 days went from 59.5% in 2006 to 67.5% in 2007. HIAS affiliates also collectively reported the highest average hourly wage rate of $9.10 per hour.

HEBREW IMMIGRANT AID SOCIETY

Measures

Cases

Individuals

Percentage

Enrolled

366

700

0

Self-sufficient 120 days

267

518

67%

Self-sufficiency retention
at 180 days

221

426

98%

Overall self-sufficiency
at 180 days

228

438

59%

Entered Employment

0

329

62%

Average Hourly Wage

0

$9.10

0

Health Benefits

0

198

76%

International Rescue Committee (IRC) received $7,513,000 to enroll 3,415 clients in CY 2007. Seventeen IRC regional offices participated in the program. IRC offices enrolled 3,581 new clients in the Matching Grant program, including 166 clients with private agency funds. Of clients enrolled, 2,847 were refugees, 470 were Asylees, 253 were Cuban Parolees and 11 were Victims of Trafficking.

IRC began resettling Iraqi refugees this year. In preparation for these refugees, senior IRC staff conducted an assessment of each regional office’s capacity to participate in the resettlement of this caseload and subsequently devised a national strategy for the placement of and assistance to Iraqi refugees. While every IRC resettlement office resettled Iraqis in 2007, the sites that were most heavily impacted by this population included Atlanta, Boston, Charlottesville, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, San Diego, Seattle and Tucson. A large number of these Iraqis arrived with war-related injuries and other medical concerns, and IRC staff has worked closely with local medical providers to inform them of the needs of this population and provide new arrivals with medical support and follow-up care. IRC has responded to reports of a high rate of exposure to traumatic events among Iraqi refugees by engaging in consultations with local mental health professionals, religious leaders, and ethnic community based organizations in order to provide newly-arrived Iraqis with comprehensive psychosocial support. IRC has also worked closely with public school officials to address the educational needs of Iraqi youth. To enhance the degree of community receptivity to new arrivals, IRC regional staff conducted outreach and public education to share information about Iraqi refugees, and have closely coordinated with existing Iraqi communities in each resettlement location.

One highlight from the field is in the area of technology. Many sites have begun to more creatively use technology to support their programs. For example, many affiliates have established computer labs for online job searches and resume writing. At Lutheran Social Ministries of New Jersey, the community orientation program is now completely technology based. The step-by-step orientation is in Power Point and available in seven different languages. As each new language group arrives, the agency has staff or community members translate the orientation into the appropriate language. In addition, the agency is in the process of digitally recording each presentation, so that clients can listen if they are not literate in their language. These innovations allow clients to watch and/or listen to the orientation at their own pace, and review it multiple times if needed.

LUTHERAN IMMIGRATION AND REFUGEE SERVICE

Measures

Cases

Individuals

Percentage

Enrolled

1741

3748

0

Self-sufficient 120 days

1155

2765

71%

Self-sufficiency retention
at 180 days

968

2166

95%

Overall self-sufficiency
at 180 days

1171

2543

82%

Entered Employment

0

1499

68%

Average Hourly Wage

0

$8.39

0

Health Benefits

0

919

65%

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) received $16,981,800 to enroll 7,719 clients in 2007. USCCB served 8,644 clients through the program, 925 additional clients through private resources. 34% of clients served were asylees.

USCCB served approximately 115 different nationalities and ethnic groups in 2007.

USCCB continues to be ORR’s largest MG grantee serving the greatest number of clients. In addition to the 925 clients enrolled solely on USCCB’s private dollars (see above), eight sites have provided more in agency cash and in-kind resources than they have expended in federal resources, this amounts to greater than 100% agency match. These eight sites were Allentown, Pennsylvania, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Cincinnati, Ohio, Detroit, Michigan, Joliet, Illinois, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Paterson and Portland, Maine.

USCRI expanded its MG program network to four new sites in 2007: Dearborn, Michigan, Raleigh, North Carolina, St. Paul, Minnesota, and Twin Falls, Idaho. These four sites served a total of 395 clients.

One highlight from the field was in the area of financial education for refugees. USCRI continued to expand its capacity to deliver financial education to local agencies through its partnership with the Citi Foundation. Local agencies in Erie, Pennsylvania, Los Angeles, California, and Miami, Florida have been recent direct beneficiaries of funding for implementing on-site financial education for clients through this initiative.

US COMMITTEE FOR REFUGEES AND IMMIGRANTS

Measures

Cases

Individuals

Percentage

Enrolled

2975

5605

0

Self-sufficient 120 days

2134

4011

66%

Self-sufficiency retention
at 180 days

1827

3264

98%

Overall self-sufficiency
at 180 days

2269

4031

85%

Entered Employment

0

2444

63%

Average Hourly Wage

0

$8.58

0

Health Benefits

0

982

43%

World Relief (WR) received $3,799,400 to enroll 1,727 clients in CY 2007. Eleven affiliate offices participate in the Matching Grant Program with a total of 1,723 clients enrolled. Of the clients enrolled, 1428 were Refugees, 116 were Asylees, 178 Cuban parolees and 1 was a Victim of Trafficking. Primary populations served were Burmese and various countries in Africa.

One highlight from the field came from the WR DuPage office in Illinois. In 2007 WR DuPage received significant support from local churches in assisting the Burmese and Burundian cases, which is expected to ‘multiply in impact,’ as some of the beneficiaries were community leaders who will assist future cases.

WORLD RELIEF

Measures

Cases

Individuals

Percentage

Enrolled

623

1723

0

Self-sufficient 120 days

601

1490

79%

Self-sufficiency retention
at 180 days

454

1042

92%

Overall self-sufficiency
at 180 days

479

1161

81%

Entered Employment

0

764

69%

Average Hourly Wage

0

$8.19

0

Health Benefits

0

547

77%

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